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In 1984 I obtained, from Alexander Turnball Library in
Wellington, a copy of the intention to marry of my great
grandfather Robert Henry Grimshaw.
On Robert's marriage certificate he gave his father name
as John Grimshaw and his mother as Ann Grimshaw, nee
Berry.
His Birth place was Armagh, Ireland.
Robert had given the following information:
Age: 29; Dwelling place Waimauku; Length of residence seven
years.
Since Robert had married in 1884, I thought that, if I
subtracted the seven years residence, I would have the year
he arrived in New Zealand.
I wrote to the Auckland Public Library inquiring about
Robert’s probable arrival in 1877. In due course a negative
answer came back, so I wrote to National Archives of Wellington.
Same answer "Not found".
Then I wrote to Verna Mossong of the New Zealand Genealogical
Society, again without success, so I left Robert and his
mysterious arrival.
In October 1984 I wrote to the eleven Grimshaws listed
in the Ulster telephone book.
Dennis Grimshaw of Holywood, Co Down, was the only one
to reply.
The Grimshaw surname being so rare in Ireland and his family
having been in Ireland a long time he thought that it was
probable that we were related.
His family formerly lived in CO Armagh, in the townland
of Kilmoriarty ( pronounced kil-more-errity) near Portadown.
He asked, “One particular question which I would like to
resolve is the link between the Grimshaw and Grimason surname
in Ulster, as it has always been alleged that one name is
a corruption of the other through local pronunciation and
usage, but which is correct”.
Late November 1984. I booked my flight tickets from Tauranga.
27 May 1985. I phoned Dennis to let him know that I was
in Stranrar and would be on the first ferry the following
day so that I could meet him at the Belfast Railway Station
as arranged.
29 May. I started my research at the PRONI at 66 Balmoral
Avenue. I requested the Portadown Microfilm, looking for
any Grimshaw and Grimason entries, until I found a marriage
entry for John Grimason and Ann Berry.
This I decided had to be mine as there was to much of
a coincidence concerning first names and the brides
maiden name.
I rewound the microfilm and started recording all entries
concerning either surname, while doing this I came across
the baptism of Robert Henry Grimason. At the end of that
week I left Dennis a copy of what I had transcribed.
10 June 1985, Four Courts, Dublin. While recording the
probate will index I found: John Grimason ( see Grimshaw
).
John Grimshaw otherwise Grimason, died 5th Feb 1903
at Kilmoriarty, CO Armagh.
On my return to New Zealand in early July 1985, I asked
Dennis to get a copy of John Grimason/Grimshaw’s will as
this would be proof of the connection between the two surnames.
As a result of having given Dennis a copy of what I had
transcribed, he was able to inform me that we are indeed
related.
After moving to Auckland late January 1995, I planned
on researching the hospital records for my great
grandmother Maria Grimshaw formaly Lynch.
In the National Archives Auckland Regional office, having
found what I wanted and having time up my sleeve I then
started looking at other index’s, while looking through
the Waikato Immigration Scheme index cards, just to see
if any Grimshaws were listed, I found “Robert H Grimmason
( see Grimshaw ). I had found my Great grandfather!
Robert arrived at devonport, Auckland, New Zealand, 14th
February 1865 on the clipper ship “Ganges”, where the manifest
shows him as Robert H Grimshaw.
His land grant show him as Robert H Grimmason.
The Southern Cross Daily passenger list of 15th February
1865 has him as Robert H Grierson.
Robert's age on arrival in New Zealand was shown as nineteen
years, agreeing with his baptism, however, when he married
in January 1884 his age was twenty nine years, a loss of
nine years!
When he died in August 1909, his age was shown as
fifty eight, out by five years.
Just goes to show what a merry dance some of our ancestors
lead us by giving incorrect information when it suits them.
His children spent most of their school life in the Helensville
area before going to Auckland late 1901 and have
disappeared, so here we go again!
I am now on the Internet and have found more interesting
stories relating to the Grimason and Grimshaw names, which
I hope to share with you later.*
David Grimshaw
Note 1: All words in Italics have been added to this article
as corrections to that originally published.
Note 2: 2007 discovered that Robert Henry Grimason was
still using the Grimason surname in 1876 see News
Paper account that I found.
E-mail: (grimason@ihug.co.nz)1996-2006 now 
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